ELLA

Not Yours

I stomp into the empty house with Pepper following close behind. 

"Who does he think he is!" I slam my goggles on the marble island.

"Acting like I'm some sort of little trophy he can boss around and polish ! Well let me tell you something -"

"Ella don't you think it's all a bit odd?" Pepper slides onto the couch.

"What?" I almost yell. 

"I mean- ok yeah Jax is amazingly hot but you literally met him last night. You danced, you kissed and now he's treating you like you've been dating for years. That's a little creepy don't you think?" 

When she puts it into that perspective it sounds insane. 

Well maybe that's because it is, Ella. 

"This is fast, too fast. I mean, for gods sakes I've never had a boyfriend much less one I met less than 24 hours ago! It's creepy !" 

But god does he make me weak. When I kiss him, it's a whole other story. 

"I'm not saying its a bad thing-" she stands from the couch "- I'm just saying its fast. He needs to tone it down. You should talk to him." 

Just then the door opens. Andrew and Jeremy walk in holding their boards and Jax's. 

"Where is he?" I demand. 

"Out on the driveway." Andrew says. 

I make my way towards the door but Andrew grips my wrist.

"Are you sure thats a good idea?" 

"I cooled down a bit. I'm sure he has too." 

He raises his hands in defeat and disappears down the stairs. 

Jax stands at the end of the driveway, leaning on the car, smoking a cigarette. 

"Hey." I say dryly. 

He turns around with a smug look on his face, then turns back inhaling smoke. 

"It's nice out here." 

Really? 

"That's all you're going to say?" I cross my arms. 

"Its super nice out here?"

I scoff and turn back to go inside. 

"Wait." He throws his cigarette to the floor and jogs to me. 

"I'm sorry. "

"For what?" of course I know what. 

"For being a dick to your friend. I don't know him or anyone around here so I should probably not cause a scene." 

His apology sounds forced, like he doesnt give them often. 

"I'm not your girlfriend, Jax." 

His face tenses up .

"I know that. " 

"I just met you , we kissed and that's it for now." 

"For now?" his voice rises a bit. 

"You cannot treat me like some celebrity or something. You can't scare off every guy that comes within 10ft of me. This is too fast, whatever we have going on here. " 

Look at you, Ella. Standing your ground. 

"So there is something going on right?" he steps closer to me but  I take a step back. 

There's a long pause. 

"You clearly trust me. I don't think that's something you do very often."

He runs his hand through his untamed hair. 

"It's-"

"I'm not finished." I snap. 

A small grin appears on his face. 

"You told me alot this morning. It's a lot to take in and I told myself I'm up for it. But you have got to take it slow." 

"Bu-"

"I'm still not finished. "

He looks down now. 

"We are co-workers now. Which means we need to be professional. And as much as I don't want to admit it because it's way too soon..." 

His eyes flash up.

"I am extremely attracted to you.  But we need to take this slow. Like maybe a date or something. Like, normal people.  " 

"So we're not normal?" 

Now he's just making fun of me. 

"You're clearly impossible. Forget it."

" Wait- alright." He extends his hand out to mine- " Deal." 

"Really?" 

He lets out a frustrated sigh.

"Yes. Really. You're right. I came on too strong and I'll behave. Promise."

Something tells me he's not going to change much. But it's an effort... right?

We shake on it and go back inside to find Pepper watching tv in the living room. 

"Husband and wife doing ok?" she teases. 

"Oh shush." 

I didn't even notice that Jax snuck away downstairs. 

"Weather lady says there's a huge blizzard coming. They say it's going to be real bad." 

"Think we should go to the store and get some stuff?" 

"You're asking me? I was raised on the beach. I wouldn't know the difference between a snow plow and a snow flake." 

"Ok that officially makes zero sense." we laugh and agree to go change so we can go to the store before the storm rolls in. 

I call Dawn and she informs me her and Ryan will be staying at the resort over night and to be safe, ect.

As I'm slipping on my first layer someone knocks on the door. 

"We're naked!" Pepper yells. 

"No we're not!" 

"Can I speak to you, Ella?" Jax mumbles through the door.

Pepper and I exchange odd looks. 

"We're going out right now, can it wait?" 

"Oh, yeah sure." 

Piper zips up her jacket- "Ok he officially freaks me out."

"He didn't do anything ! " 

"Look at you defending him." 

"Not defending. He just told me some stuff. He hasn't had it easy. Just don't be rough on him, yeah?" I plead. 

She gives me a coursing look. 

"Alright, fine. I'll play along." 

"Thank you. Now am I driving or you?"